Envelop.



N. c. SPRAGUB.

ENVELOP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, 1908.

Patented Mar. 16, 1909.

W/f/VESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NEWTON C. SPRAGUE, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO W. H. STEVENS, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

ENVELOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 16, 1909.

Application filed May 8, 1908. Serial No. 431,673.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, N EWTON O. SPRAGUE, of Minneapolis, Hennepin county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelops, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an envelop for mailing third class matter such as circulars or capable of adaptation for first class.

A further and particular object is to provide an envelop for circular matter which will allow the convenient inspection of the contents to determine its class, and prevent other and smaller envelops from slipping inside the flap where they will be unnoticed by the clerks handling the mail, a frequent happening with circular envelops as usually lnade.

A further object is to provide an envelop of simple, economical construction and one in which there will be very little waste material in cutting.

My invention consists generally in an envelop substantially as described and specified in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a circular envelop embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a view of the blank from which the envelop is formed. Fig. 3 illustrates the envelop closed. Fig. 4 illustrates the flap turned back ready to receive the mailing matter. Fig. 5 illustrates the envelop bent along the central longitudinal line to expose the contents. Fig. 6 is an end view of the envelop bent as in Fig. 5.

In the drawing, 2 represents the face of the envelop upon which the address is written. At the ends of this face, flaps 3 and 4 are provided having their outer faces suitably gummed. A back flap is formed on the lower edge of the face 2 and is bent upwardly and secured to the gummed surfaces of the flaps 3. A closing flap 6 is provided on the opposite edge of the face 2 from the flap 5 and is adapted to be bent downwardly and secured to the gummed surfaces of the flaps 4;. The edge of the flap 6 laps over the cor responding edge of the flap 5 closingthe gap between them and preventing the escape of the circular letter placed in the envelop and also preventing smaller envelops from slipping inside the fiap and becoming concealed from view. This often occurs where an ordinary envelop is used and the flap is merely tucked inside without being sealed. A gap is thereby formed into which small envelops, particularly such as those containing invitations or calling cards, accidentally slide and being concealed by the envelop escape entirely the notice of the mailing clerks and are in this way frequently missent or lost.

With this envelop the edge of the flap 6 will lie close to the flap 5 and no other matter in the mail can pass in between them. The clerk can easily inspect the contents of the envelop by bending it along the middle line as shown in Fig. 5, and if desired the circular contained in the envelop can be entirely removed for inspection and then replaced in the envelop without breaking the seal between the flaps 6 and 4. The envelop may be made of any suitable material and in various sizes.

I claim as my invention:

1. An envelop comprising a front part to receive the address, and end flaps formed thereon, said flaps having gummed surfaces and being divided transversely near their middle portion, a flap formed on the lower edge of said front part and upwardly turned and secured to the gummed surfaces of the lower portions of said end flaps, and a closing flap formed on the upper edge of said front part and adapted to be bent downwardly and secured to the gummed surfaces of the upper portions of said end flaps, the edge of said closing flap lapping by the corresponding edge of said back flap the lapping portion of said closing flap being unsecured.

2. An envelop comprising a front part having a back flap on one longitudinal edge and a closing flap on the other longitudinal edge, said flaps being adapted to lap by one another when the envelop is sealed, and end flaps formed on said front part and whereto said back and closing flaps are secured the lapping portion of the outer flap being unsecured, said end flaps being divided transversely to allow access to the envelop when it is folded along the center thereof contiguous to the overlapping edges of said back and closing flaps, substantially as described.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of May, 1908.

NEWTON C. SPRAGUE.

Witnesses:

Brennan PAUL, J. A. BYINGTON. 

